How to Introduce Podcast Guests & Keep Your Audience Engaged

This blog post was originally published on 17/07/2023. It was updated on 23/01/2026.

How many times have you listened to a podcast episode and it feels as though you’re getting the guest’s life history rather than the podcast episode and conversation that you were expecting?

Never experienced this?

Then you’re in luck. Because you’ve managed to come across a podcast where the host knows how to introduce podcast guests clearly and succinctly, and in a way that is relevant to their show and audience.

But, if you’re like me, you’ve likely tuned into many a podcast episode where you were expecting to learn or be entertained about one topic, only to end up listening to what feels like the guest’s biography before the episode EVENTUALLY gets into what it was supposed to be about in the first place.

You see, when introducing your guests, or allowing them to introduce themselves, it’s easy to fall into the trap of over-justifying why your guest is there.

And this isn’t the fault of the podcaster. Because most people are never taught how to interview someone else, let alone how to introduce someone else before interviewing them.

But the truth is that your audience don’t care about the guest’s first boyfriend in college (unless it’s relevant to the episode), or that they sold their house and moved across the country before they bought a horse and set up their business. Unless it’s directly linked to the episode, it’s just fluff that’s wasting everyone’s time and can lead to your audience ditching your episode in favour of some other podcast.

And that’s the last thing you want.

Listen to skilled interviewers on the radio or on TV shows. They’ll usually keep a guest’s introduction to a few sentences, if that, only explaining the exact reason as to why that guest is on that show at that exact time.

They don’t mess around with anything else.

There to promote a book about their childhood? That’s how the guest will be introduced.

The guest is educating the audience about something they’re an expert in? That’s all you’ll be told.

So how can you introduce your podcast guests in a way that covers all of the information you want, but without boring your listeners and making them turn to another episode? In this post, we will answer just that question to help you introduce your podcast guests in a meaningful and engaging way.

Related Post >> How to Prepare to Host a Podcast Interview to Get the Best Out of Your Podcast Guests

The Challenges of Introducing Podcast Guests

Introducing podcast guests may seem like a walk in the park. After all, they send you over their professional bio (or you find it on their website) and you just read it out word-for-word before you start your interview.

Right?

Well, 99% of the time, no.

Because 99% of the time, what people put on their websites or professional bios isn’t exactly how they need to be introduced on your show.

Your audience don’t need to know the mission and vision statement of your guest’s company. They don’t need to know their holiday job whilst they were at university. And they definitely don’t need to know about their Great-Aunty Maud dropping round last weekend with a fresh batch of cookies. (Of course, the caveat of this is if you’re interviewing them about their Great-Aunty Maud’s cookie recipe!).

Picture this: you’re listening to a podcast, and the host spends a good five minutes rambling about their guest’s accomplishments, childhood pets, and their favourite pizza toppings.

It’s boring, right?

If I’ve tuned into a 40-minute podcast episode to get the top 6 marketing tips relating to bakers, I don’t want to spend the first 10 minutes of that episode just listening to an in-depth list of everything the guest has achieved in their life and what qualifies them to talk on this subject.

I already trust that the podcast host has done their due diligence and vetted the podcast guest for me. This isn’t a second opportunity to vet that guest.

What you need instead is a concise and relevant introduction that is either given by you as the podcast host or by your guest.

A concise and relevant introduction not only grabs your listeners’ attention but also sets the stage for what’s to come. It piques their curiosity and makes them want to stick around for the conversation. Essentially, unless the information about your podcast guest is directly relevant to what you’re talking about in your podcast episode, chances are that it can be left out.

Your audience needs to know who they’re listening to and why they’re the person to listen to on the episode’s topic.

That’s it.

Related Post >> Why You Need A Podcast Guest Release Form (and How to Write One)

Preparing to Introduce Podcast Guests

Many podcast guests will send you over information that they want you to use to introduce them before you record your episode. If not, you might have an onboarding form for podcast guests where you collect information that you can use to introduce them at the start of the episode.

Once you’ve got this information, you need to do a bit of work to make sure that this information is succinctly cut down. For example, I’ve been sent bios from podcast guests before that are nearly a page long, and they expect that to all be read out at the start of the episode.

And that’s just not going to happen.

So if your podcast guest does send you information for an introduction that seems overly long, set their expectations straight and explain that you’ll be boiling all of that down to one to two sentences.

If you choose to let your guest introduce themselves, you might want to guide the questioning a little. This could include prepping the guest beforehand with what to say, or being prepared to do some editing when they go off on a tangent about their secondary school prom.

Your goal, as with any podcast introduction, is to keep your audience and listeners engaged. And a guest’s lengthy biography will rarely keep your audience around if they cannot see the relevance to them.

Related Post >> How to Record a Podcast Interview Remotely (Tools and Tips to Host the Best Interview)

How to introduce podcasts guests in a way that engages your listener

So, you’ve got an amazing podcast guest lined up – someone who can captivate your audience with their stories and insights.

But here’s the thing: if you don’t introduce them in a compelling way, your audience might just think, “Eh, who cares?” The key to a successful introduction lies in capturing your guest’s essence and teasing your audience with what’s to come.

You can start by giving a brief background on your guest, highlighting their accomplishments and expertise.

But don’t just regurgitate their LinkedIn profile, spice things up a bit! Add a dash of wit and humour to make it engaging and memorable.

Remember, your introduction sets the tone for the entire episode. So, make it exciting and intriguing. Use vivid language to create a mental image that leaves your audience wanting more. But don’t go overboard! Keep it concise and to the point.

Rambling introductions can bore your audience before they even get to hear from your guest. And trust me, you don’t want that. So, cut to the chase and get their attention from the start.

How to make your podcast guest introductions relevant

Know your guest

Before introducing your podcast guest, do some research and get to know them.

Find out their areas of expertise, their accomplishments, and their unique insights. This will help you craft an introduction that highlights their strengths and makes them feel valued. Remember, nobody likes to be introduced as just a random person off the street.

Highlight shared interests

Look for common ground between you and your guest.

Do you share a passion for a particular topic? Have you both overcome similar challenges?

By mentioning these shared interests, you create an instant connection and set the stage for a meaningful conversation. Plus, it shows your audience that you’ve done your homework and you’re not just winging it.

Tease the episode

Give your audience a taste of what’s to come in the episode.

Share a compelling snippet of the guest’s story or a thought-provoking question they’ll be addressing. This will pique your audience’s curiosity and make them eager to stick around and listen.

After all, who doesn’t love a good cliffhanger?

Keep it concise

While it’s important to provide some context about your guest, remember that brevity is key.

A long-winded introduction can be a major turn-off for listeners. So, keep it short, sweet, and to the point. Focus on the most relevant and impactful aspects of your guest’s background and expertise.

Trust me, your audience will thank you for not rambling on.

Inject personality

Don’t be afraid to inject some of your own personality into the introduction.

Make it fun, witty, and engaging. Add a dash of humour or share a personal anecdote related to the topic or the guest. This will not only grab your audience’s attention but also make the introduction more memorable and entertaining.

Conclusion

You want to strike the right balance between being informative and engaging without overshadowing your guest. Plus, you only have a few seconds to make a lasting impression.

No pressure!

Start with a brief but captivating hook that highlights your guest’s expertise or something intriguing about their journey. Transition smoothly into their background, mentioning key milestones or achievements. Finally, end with a teaser of what your audience can expect from the conversation.

To make your introduction relevant, do your research! Get to know your guest inside out, so you can highlight their unique experiences and insights. Tailor the introduction to your podcast’s theme and focus on aspects that align with your audience’s interests. And don’t be afraid to inject some personality and humour into your delivery.

A succinct and relevant introduction sets the stage for an engaging conversation and keeps your audience hooked till the end; add your personal touch, and make each introduction a memorable one. Happy podcasting!